Information Services

Collection Development Policy

Philosophy

Purpose

The collection supports the broad curricular, instructional and research needs in all major areas of philosophy and the history of philosophy.   Areas of emphasis include metaphysics, ethics, theory of knowledge, philosophy of mind, social philosophy and works of and commentary on individual philosophers.   There is some overlap with the religion department in the areas of philosophy of religion and eastern philosophy and with the classics department in area of ancient philosophers.   The interdisciplinary nature of philosophy extends the collection in the areas of the study of consciousness and the philosophy of mind, as well as the philosophy of art, philosophy of language and philosophy of science.

General Subject Boundaries

The Philosophy Department has research and teaching interests that are broadly based including the following areas:   existentialism, philosophy of mind, philosophy of law, philosophy of history, ethics, applied ethics, phenomenology, philosophy of science, environmental philosophy, philosophy of art, feminist philosophy and 19 th and 20 th century continental philosophy.   Faculty research needs will be accommodated within the scope of the general guidelines and limits of the materials budget. In general, the Library does not collect textbooks or multiple copies of materials.

Faculty are encouraged to submit purchase requests and make recommendations to the departmental liaison. The liaison, in consultation with the Director of Information Resources, will make the final purchasing decision.

The periodic removal (weeding or deselection) of extraneous and obsolete materials from the shelves will be conducted using the criteria outlined in the Collection Development and Information Access Policy.

Types of Material Collected

Publication in philosophy is almost entirely in books and serials.   Bibliographies, biographies and histories related to the study of philosophy are collected.   Videos and DVDs are collected to support the philosophy of film and on major philosophical thinkers.

Reference materials in electronic formats are collected (ie Philosopher's Index) but are generally selected by library staff and paid for from funds designated for reference.

Format of Materials Collected

Monographs and general reference works will be acquired in print format. Generally, the Library will subscribe to journals in one format only, and preference will be given to electronic format when available with the exceptions listed in the Collection Development and Information Access Policy. Preference will also be given to electronic indexes with full text access to journal articles when coverage is comparable.

Languages

English is the primary language.   Translations into English of significant works are also acquired.   Important editions of major philosophical texts in classical and Western European languages are acquired selectively.

Geographical Areas

There are no particular geographical distinctions to be drawn within the subject matter of philosophy.

Chronological Scope

Materials relevant to the study of the progression of philosophy from antiquity to the present are collected.

Special Collections and Manuscripts

The acquisition of primary source materials, rare books, codices, and other special collections materials will be determined by the Special Collections Librarian.

Other Resources Available

Currently registered students and Connecticut College faculty and staff have access to monographs, audiovisual materials, and government documents from Trinity College and Wesleyan University through the CTW Consortium. Interlibrary loan provides access to monographs not held within the CTW Consortium as well as journal articles not available at Connecticut College .

Creation and Revision History

Draft document created March 2005 by Kathy Gehring, Library Liaison to the Philosophy Department.

Draft forwarded to Larry Vogel, Chair of the Philosophy Department for review and comment.

LC Class

B, BC, BD, BH, BJ

Ordering Library Materials

Recommendations and requests for purchase of philosophy materials should be addressed to Kathy Gehring, Shain Library.

Collection Development and Information Access Policy

The Collection Development and Information Access Policy can be viewed at:   http://www.conncoll.edu/is/info-resources/colldevpolicy.html

Liaison

Kathy Gehring
Research & Instruction Librarian
Charles E. Shain Library
Connecticut College
(860) 439-5225
kmgeh@conncoll.edu